Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#1

Post by mindbrix » Mon, Sep 01, 2025, 7:56 AM UTC

Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC
github.com

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#2

Post by mindbrix » Mon, Sep 01, 2025, 7:56 AM UTC

I've been working on this problem on and off for over 10 years.

AMA ;-)

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#3

Post by mfabbri77 » Mon, Sep 01, 2025, 8:26 AM UTC

I'm always interested in new 2D vector rendering algorithms, so if you make a blog post explaining your approach, with enough detail, I'd be happy to read it!

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#4

Post by mindbrix » Mon, Sep 01, 2025, 8:40 AM UTC

mfabbri77 wrote: post #3

I'm always interested in new 2D vector rendering algorithms, so if you make a blog post explaining your approach, with enough detail, I'd be happy to read it!

Thanks for the feedback. I will work on one.

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#5

Post by stevenwilkin » Tue, Sep 02, 2025, 9:53 AM UTC

Great to see you're still going Nigel! Is this library the latest iteration of your original VectorGL project?

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#6

Post by delhanty » Wed, Sep 03, 2025, 11:12 AM UTC

Congratulations!

Can you say how the it's similar and how it's different to superficially similar sounding work?

(1) https://github.com/linebender/vello , dual Apache/MIT, by Raph Levien et al

(2) https://sluglibrary.com/ , proprietary, by Eric Lengyel (Terathon)

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#7

Post by vlaaad » Fri, Sep 05, 2025, 5:14 AM UTC

mindbrix wrote: post #2

I've been working on this problem on and off for over 10 years. AMA ;-)

Have you compared performance of your solution to rive?

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#8

Post by Fraterkes » Fri, Sep 05, 2025, 7:29 AM UTC

mindbrix wrote: post #2

I've been working on this problem on and off for over 10 years. AMA ;-)

So what part of the SVG-spec does this implement? Does it support text? Gradients? Filters like blur and dropshadow?

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#9

Post by mindbrix » Fri, Sep 05, 2025, 7:30 AM UTC

stevenwilkin wrote: post #5

Great to see you're still going Nigel! Is this library the latest iteration of your original VectorGL project?

Hi Steve. Yes, it is! 10+ years in the making.

Re: Rasterizer: A GPU-accelerated 2D vector graphics engine in ~4k LOC

#10

Post by mindbrix » Fri, Sep 05, 2025, 7:42 AM UTC

Fraterkes wrote: post #8

mindbrix wrote: post #2

I've been working on this problem on and off for over 10 years. AMA ;-)

So what part of the SVG-spec does this implement? Does it support text? Gradients? Filters like blur and dropshadow?

None of that yet. The underlying SVG library, nanosvg, is very simple with no text support.

The first priority was to solve paths to pixels efficiently, including text (50,000 glyphs @ 60fps).

Gradients will be added when time allows, as I have code from a previous engine.

The coverage algorithm can be extended to support cheap box blurs, which could be used for drop shadows.